City of Chandler Study Session 7/14/25

Good evening and welcome to the regular
meeting of the Chandler City Hall City
Council uh at city hall. I would like to
call this meeting to order. Clerk,
please take the role.
>> Mayor Hartkey
>> here.
>> Vice Mayor Ellis
>> here.
>> Council member
>> here. Council member Poston
>> here.
>> Council member Orlando
>> here. Council member Harris
>> here.
>> Council member Hawkins
>> here.
>> We have a quorum. Thank you so much. Our
invitation tonight is brought forth by
Jollian Clark and our pledge of
allegiance by council member Orlando.
Mr.
Oh thou who art the Lord of lords, I
testify that thou art the Lord of all
creation and the educator of all beings,
visible and invisible.
I bear witness that thy power hath
encompassed the entire universe, and
that the hosts of the earth can never
dismay thee, nor can the dominion of all
peoples and nations deter thee from
executing thy purpose.
I confess that thou has no desire except
the regeneration of the whole world and
the establishment of the unity of its
peoples.
and the salvation
of all them that dwell therein.
Bahigh writings.
>> Please join me in pledge allegiance.
>> I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.
Thank you, Mr. Clark. Thank you, council
member. Our scheduled public appearances
is next. I'd like to invite Jennifer
Hawkins to join me up front.
Looking at my notes here for a minute,
just out of honor. All
right. So, for scheduled public
appearances, first we have a
proclamation parks and wreck month. If
our community services team can come
join us up front,
[Applause]
>> that's part of the community services
team.
All right, got a proclamation to read.
Happy you can go on this side, although
I know it's cooler being on this side,
but
whereas Chandler Parks and Recreation
programs enhance the quality of life
within our community, providing diverse
and inclusive opportunities to discover,
imagine, and grow. And whereas engaging
programs and classes inspire community
members of all ages to move, connect,
and explore, reinforcing reinforcing the
personnel, personal, environmental, and
economic benefits of recreation and
leisure programs. And whereas the city
of Chandler's parks, playgrounds,
aquatic, and recreation centers are more
than just places. They're the
foundations of lifelong friendships,
catalysts for personal growth in
classrooms, for learning about and
thriving in our world. And whereas
Chandler's Park and Wreck opportunities
welcome everyone from all backgrounds,
cultures, and walks of life to find
their place of belonging within parks
and recreational activities. And whereas
Parks and Recreation Month celebrates
the people who bring our parks and
recreation programs to life, the
professionals who steward our park
amenities and care for the landscapes
and teams who dedicate their talents to
creating programs, activities, and
events that unite us as a community and
benefit us as individuals. Mouth.
Therefore, I Kevin Herky, mayor of the
city of Chandler, Arizona, do hereby
proclaim the month of July 2025 as Park
and Recreation Month and encourage all
residents to explore what Chandler has
to offer. From exploring our 70 parks to
participating in our rewarding programs
this parks and wreck month, let's build
together and play together as a
community.
>> Thank you, Mayor.
John, would you say some words?
>> I will certainly say some words. And
everybody that came up today was ready
to talk individually, but we realized
we've got a council meeting to do. So, I
wanted to introduce Olly. So, Olly the
ostrich is going to be found here,
there, and almost everywhere throughout
our system. And if you have a Facebook
and take a selfie with Olly and post
your on your Facebook and tag us as the
parks and recreation for Chandler, you
have a chance to win some great prizes.
You know, I almost said a trip to
Europe, but uh that truly is not within
the city council's budget unless the
mayor wanted to make such a an endeavor.
But uh being a child that grew up in
Chandler as well, uh parks and
recreation has been an important part of
my life. uh whether it was the parks or
the programs, learning to swim, so many
different areas. Personally, uh it
turned into a career and to be able to
be a director of such a great department
and to honor the staff every day that
get to deal with and supply this
community with a great place to live,
work, play, experience, learn, to
discover, imagine, and grow. It is truly
an honor. and mayor for you to read that
wonderful lengthy uh proclamation makes
it even that much better. Thank you,
sir.
>> Can I consider this my selfie?
All right. Um,
we also have um recognition
from the um 2025 International Data
Corporation Smart Cities North America
Award. So, if Nikki Tapia,
>> Christian Nol, and our Smart City staff
can come on up.
So earlier this year, Chandler was named
a winner in the 2024 International Datra
Corporation Smart Cities North America
Awards for a real time instant language
assistance program. This was an
impressive team effort. So um Nikki
Kirsten, would you guys like to share
more?
>> Well, Kristen cannot be here today, so
I'll speak. Um, thank you to mayor and
council and our city leadership for
believing in this vision to utilize
innovation to better serve our
residents. Thank you to our partners in
this information technology, Sandep,
Kristen, Janine, Charles for helping us
to connect people and purpose with
technology.
Thank you to the employees who could be
here today. um they're using the
devices, their enthusiasm, their
creativity, their real life experiences
help make this program a success and
continue to make it a success. And we
are just getting started with these
devices. We've done one deployment and
thanks to the devices and thanks to our
employees, we are well on the way to
ensuring that all of our residents, no
matter language or ability, um feel
seen, feel heard, and feel better served
by their government. Thank you.
>> Very good.
All right. In instead of Kirsten, would
you like to say anything?
>> I'd actually like to share a story about
the first time I actually got to
interact and see this. I was with my mom
at a downtown event and Charles actually
was getting ready to showcase this and
he was actually able to show her how the
ILA works and a few weeks later I was
visiting some of the seniors at the
senior center at one of their events and
one of the folks came up and kind of
reiterated what Nikki just said in that
I don't feel nervous being able to come
downtown to do my business that I need
to do with the city because I know I can
be heard and I know that I'll get served
but also that they'll understand where
I'm coming from, right? And so this is
truly something that hit me hard when I
heard that from some of the senior
citizens that still do have to do
business and interact with the
government. And this truly is something
that I think will make a difference.
Thank you, Nikki, for letting us be a
part of that.
>> Well, very good. Let's take a photo. Why
don't you guys scoot in the middle?
>> All right. Well, congratulations
All right. And next we have uh
retirement and service recognitions.
City manager.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of
council. We do have one retirement
recognition and one service recognition
this evening. And for the first
presentation, I'd like to call forward
our public works and utilities director,
John Kudson.
Thank you, city manager, mayor, and
council. Tonight, I'd like to ask David
Valenuela to come forward for his
22-year retirement recognition.
>> David began his career with Chandler in
May of 2003. He was originally a member
of the streets division's concrete team.
In April of 2005, David was promoted to
a senior street specialist and joined
the street sweeper team where he has
worked in a group of eight sweeper
operators who work tirelessly day and
night to keep Chandler looking great.
David is wellliked and respected by the
entire department. Always quick with a
smile, offering advice and willing to
help wherever possible. His dedication
to Chandler is evident in all that David
does. his professional demeanor,
experience, and dependability will be
missed. We hope that as you move
forward, David, you carry with you the
memories and friendships built here, and
that you never forget the community of
Chandler that will always be grateful
for all you've given. I am certain that
David is looking forward to spending
more time in the outdoors, camping, and
hunting, and of course, time with his
grandchildren.
>> Congratulations, David. Enjoy the next
chapter and know that Chandler will miss
you.
[Applause]
Mayor and Council, for our service
recognition this evening, I'd like to
call up Kevin Snder, our development
services director.
>> Thank you, city manager, and good
evening, mayor and council. This time
I'd like to invite Dennis Al to please
come up.
And while Dennis makes his way up here,
I'm going to take you back to 2015.
So in 2015, the Apple Watch launched for
the first time.
In 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
premiered.
Hamilton was the hottest show on
Broadway in 2015.
And for many, avocado toast was the new
trendy food item. Not me, but many. But
most importantly of all, Dennis Aust
joined Team Chandler.
Dennis joined us in July 2015 as a
development project coordinator,
bringing nearly 20 years of experience
in telecommunications engineering and
aircraft electrical engineering. He did
such a great job that a year later he
was promoted to his current position as
telecommunications and utility franchise
manager.
Dennis oversees a small albeit small but
effective and mighty group of team
members who are responsible for for who
are responsible for the permitting plan
review and inspection of non- city
utility providers and those wireless
carriers that operate within our city
within our public rightways and our
easements. His leadership ensures that
all work aligns with Chandler's high
standards for safety, aesthetics, and
customer service. Dennis teams is also
responsible for the city-owned fiber
optic network interconnects over 50 city
buildings, over 235 traffic signals, and
numerous other facilities. And before it
became the buzzword, Dennis was
instrumental in helping make Chandler
one of the smart cities in the United
States.
And well, the finale of parks and
recreation was 10 years ago. Dennis is
still with team Chandler providing
exceptional service to the Chandler
community. Dennis, thank you and
congratulations on 10 years and here's
to many more.
All right. And we have one more service
recognition and this involves um city
manager. You'd want to come on up.
[Applause]
All right. You're familiar with these
signs.
>> I thought it should be right road kind
of like rural road, but uh
>> right there.
>> Yeah.
From our understanding, this is your
last availability to um come to a
council meeting. And uh so we certainly
wanted to take a moment and uh have the
opportunity to say some things. So Josh,
on behalf of city council, our Chandler
residents, and members of team Chandler,
I want to thank you for your leadership
and service to our community. You joined
the city manager's office eight years
ago, and you brought a steady hand, a
sharp intellect, and a heart that was
really committed to public service.
You've been a problem solver, able to
take divergent input from council, from
the community, from staff, and lead us
to paths forward. And we're grateful.
And for the last four years, you served
as our city manager. You've helped
Chandler become more connected,
innovative, and prepared for the future.
Under your leadership that came on the
heels of the the global pandemic, we
didn't just recover, we thrived.
So working in close alignment with city
council's strategic framework which
grateful for council every time we do
this for your for your input. You
provided leadership to help shape our
shared vision and to action and ensured
Chandler remained a community of
innovation, opportunity and excellence.
We have been repeatedly recognized as
one of the best places to live, work and
raise a family. And the achievements
under this strategic framework have
improved our quality of life. It has
strengthened our neighborhoods.
It has provided uh long-term vitality
economical economically. And as we've
made continued investments in critical
infrastructure, mobile and technology,
we've helped Chandler become a smarter
city,
literally. And thank you Dennis for your
role in that as well and the other staff
that make this possible. And we did this
all the time while uh maintaining a
fiscal strength position, transparent
government, and a focus on the people
who call Chandler home. Yeah, keep
smiling. I'm not done yet.
>> I want to especially recognize your
leadership in building and empowering
our city workforce. You've led by
example. You've supported innovation
across departments and you've always
kept the mission of public service as a
centerpiece and a hallmark of who we are
and what our employees expect.
We as a city are grateful for you and
grateful for the work that you have
continued to do. And whether it's at a
community event or walking through city
hall, you've always made time to listen
and treat everyone with respect and
general interest. You've created a
culture where ideas can be shared and
people feel valued and seen. You've also
invested deeply in our people, growing
the next generation of city leaders and
ensuring Chandler remains in capable
hands.
One more paragraph.
You've led this organization with
consistency, empathy, and a deep
understanding that strong teams and
strong relationships are what drive
lasting progress. You led during
uncertain times. You never shied away
from hard conversations or complex
challenges. You brought calm, clarity,
and a focus on what mattered most. So,
thank you for helping us build the
Chandler of today and laying the
foundation for the Chandler of tomorrow.
And as you begin your next chapter, know
that you leave behind a stronger, more
resilient Chandler, one that is better
because of your leadership. So, we wish
you continued success, and we're
grateful for your contributions to
Chandler.
All right, I'm going to step back behind
the days and if other council members
would like to say something, we could do
that as well.
>> Uh, you could go back.
>> It's meant to be an honoring, not a
roast.
Council members, any of you would like
to say anything? I know uh you're
certainly welcome to.
>> Vice Mayor.
>> Thank you, Mayor Josh. I would like to
take a moment to thank you for your
service to the city. As a
child who was here, grew up here. I I
will be remiss if I didn't mention your
business academy uh where you
literally started to learn your ABCs
and we have that in common because my
children started there and I could see
the potential that this particular
institute had put into you and you
carried that all along which was always
about integrity teaching you how to play
good into the sin box. You never came in
and said this is my ball.
You will not play. You actually says
this is our ball. Let us play together.
For that I'm grateful. I'm grateful for
your family. Your mom as a doctor who
has worked in this city for years when
cotton was being picked in this city.
Your mom who's working and taking care
of patients here. So this is your city.
This is where you belong. and this place
will always remember you for having
contributed to its legacy. So tonight on
behalf of myself, my family and those of
us who really tr know your character, we
would like to thank you for your service
for having given everything you got for
this city. And now as you go to UFA,
another one thing that align us
together, my son, his went to UVA
and you know he's no longer with us. So
if he was here tonight, he will say bail
out.
>> Thank you, Vice Mayor.
Um,
go ahead.
>> All right. Thank you, Mayor Josh. Um, I
want to say I am sad to see you go. I
wish I would have had more time and
opportunity to spend and learn from you.
I think you offer Chandler something
that's undeniably great. Um, but overall
I just want to say thank you. Thank you
for everything you've done for me as a
new council member, but everything
you've done for Chandler. Um,
it's a tough job and so I just want to
make sure that you know how much we
appreciate you. Thank you,
>> Council Orlando. Josh, these always
sound like funerals. Let's not make it a
funeral. Let's make it a happy night
because you've done such a great job and
we're going to miss you obviously and um
you know um
I've seen you grow and I know when you
first took the job you and I had our
first coffee and we was uh what's the
name of the coffee shop? Ziggies, right?
Ziggies. Yeah, Josh loves Ziggies
coffee. So that go to that. Um we had a
great discussion there. You asked me
where I wanted to go as a council
member, where I wanted to go, you know,
and take and grow and and then you said,
"Where do you what do you want me to do
to help you get there?" And vice versa.
I said, "How do you want me to help you
get there?" And I thought it was a great
relationship. It was an honest, open
relationship. Um, I appreciate you
calling me when you thought I might have
been off base. And quite frankly, I did
the same thing for you. And I think
that's a fair, healthy relationship. And
it wasn't that critical, by the way,
folks. It was more of a hey, where were
you? What were your thoughts on this
council member? I think more more
professional. Um
yeah, there's a lot of great things are
said about you Josh and uh one of the
things I know uh my 23 years on this
council, your love for the staff. I have
not seen that uh in a long long time and
uh your defense of the staff and uh
truly is remarkable. Of course, we up
here supported 100% when you came and
said, "Hey, this is a good thing to do
for staff." And we said, "Sure, Josh. If
you think it's a great thing, we think
it's a great thing." So, I truly
appreciate that. And finally, um
it's uh let's see here. Yep. Yep.
Finally, it's UVA's game and our loss.
We appreciate that. And I'm lucky, Vice
Mayor. I have one that graduated ASU,
one that graduate UVA, and one that
graduate NAU. So, I give you all the
signs. Good luck, Josh. Stay in touch.
>> Thank you, Council Member Post.
>> Thank you, Mayor.
>> Council member Orlando took half of my
stuff because I wanted to point out what
an amazing advocate you have been for
staff. And I know the staff are going to
miss you. We're all going to miss you.
We have heard this. But as a former and
city employee myself, a a good city
manager who advocates for you really
truly makes a difference um when getting
council to get on board in the support
of staff and that wasn't the case when
you first came on. I don't think our
staff felt appreciated and you know that
that you did that to the height of
excellence and I appreciate that and I
know our staff does too. And so I wish
you the best of luck down at U of A. Um,
I was a house divided until I had one
graduate, but now I got I got me a
little wildat down there, so keep an eye
on him or not. Um, but bear down and
best of luck.
>> Okay, that's where we see this.
>> Thank you, Mayor Josh. Um, I'm going to
miss you. Um, you've been my favorite
city manager and my only city manager.
So, I don't have real comparisons, but I
think you're you're brilliant and you've
always had an answer for me at all times
when I needed you and you always had a
time to put down my Sunundevils as well,
too. So, that's something I won't miss.
Um, but Josh, I do admire your work
ethic. I admire your your ambition to
get things done. and our city would not
be where it's at without you, your work,
and managing our amazing staff that we
have here. So, I truly I'm going to miss
you. Um, and hate to see you go, but I
know you're going to be on to bigger and
better things, and I know you'll keep in
touch with us. So, thank you. Thank you
for your time.
>> All right. Thank you, city manager.
>> Mayor,
>> Council Member Harris.
>> Yeah. I'm going to say a couple things.
Um, I'm not going to miss Josh
because I'm only a phone call away. I'm
not sad because you're moving on to
bigger and better things. And that's
what this process has been uh for you
and for everything that you have
prepared your life goals for. Um, moving
on. It's tough when you don't see that
person every single day, but we're but
you're always you've always been one
phone call away or one text message away
from reaching out or having a solution
for a problem that we're trying to
solve. And the way I appreciate
your gifts in terms of being able to
solve problems is what we want our
direct hires to do is solve problems
because every day a new problem is being
pitched for you to solve. And you've
always courageously stepped up to those
challenges and you've always been
wanting to have a courageous
conversation. And I can always respect a
man who can acknowledge his thoughts and
still move forward and be a better man.
Um, and because you are consistently
looking at what you did yesterday to
better yourself for tomorrow. Well,
which means that you will always
um help organizations or going to the U
of A to bear down to make that
organization stronger and better. And so
for that on behalf of the people of
Chandler, we appreciate your service to
Chandler and we appreciate um what
you've been able to value add uh to our
community. So uh you get to go back to
your your place and um you get to bear
down and um I am praying that God give
you the wisdom in your journey through
this life. um because it's not much.
It's not easy. It only gets funner as
you get older, but keep doing it, Josh,
and keep staying focused. And um truly
thank you for serving the people of
Chandler, and we appreciate you. Thanks.
>> All right. City manager, anything you'd
like to say?
>> Mayor, thank you, mayor and council. I
just want to take a moment to say thank
you for this recognition. Um, thank you
for the trust you've put in me as your
city manager uh these last four years
and in my entire time as a city of
Chandler employee. Um, it's never been
lost in me what an honor it is to serve
as city manager. There are very few
people that get to do this that get to
be in a role where you get to have such
a profound influence and impact on a
community. And I've always taken that
responsibility
uh with appreciation and with gratitude
and with a sense of duty to do what's
right and what's best. And I appreciate
that you've continued to trust in me to
to lead this staff and to be a part of
the great things that we do here in
Chandler. Um I, you know, came here
eight years ago and it really was a
dream come true for me. I honestly uh
always thought even in the other two
cities I worked for that were great
cities as well. Uh Chandler was just the
the pinnacle uh that you could get to as
working in municipal government and I've
been doing this about 20 years now. Um
and so thank you for giving me that
opportunity. Thank you for uh helping
make this such a special experience. And
uh as many of you picked up on, I uh I
really believe in the power of people.
um we can do all the uh innovation that
we want. We can do all the technology
that we need. We can invest in all the
infrastructure. At the end of the day,
it's people. This is what it's all
about. This is a human-driven business.
And so, I've always tried to treat
people with respect, no matter how I
felt uh about it. And uh I've never been
a person with a lot of strong opinions,
which made it a little easier. But uh I
really uh do think that the work that we
do here in team Chandler, our staff is
second to none. You see just a couple
small examples tonight. We just we just
know how to do it right and we always
have and I know that will continue uh
along into the future and I thank
council for your support of the team
that we have here and continuing to
invest in them as they do great things
for our community. Um, again, thank you
for for all this uh opportunity uh to be
here and to be part of this world and
this community. And um it's been a
blessing for my family and for me. I'm
truly appreciative.
>> Thank you.
[Applause]
And it's good to know that because you
love Chandler so much, you're you're
staying as a Chandler resident. So,
you're vested.
Council, next on our agenda is the
consent agenda of this regular meeting.
Um, is there a motion? Mayor,
>> Council Member Orlando,
>> I move that we approve the consent
agenda July 14, 2025 regular meetings
items 1 through three.
>> We have a motion. Is there a second?
>> Second, mayor.
>> Second by Vice Mayor.
No other hands or actions being
indicated desired. Council, please vote.
>> Council member Harris.
>> Yes.
>> Yes.
>> All right. That concludes this meeting.
Motion carries unanimously.
[Music]
>> Whoops.
>> I got a little over over.
>> All right, city attorney. Is that still
good? Do we need to call a special
meeting to
All right. Uh,
welcome to the July 14th, 2025 study
session of the Chandler City Council.
Like to call this meeting to order. Um,
clerk, please take the role.
>> Mayor Hartkey
>> here.
>> Vice Mayor Ellis,
>> present.
>> Council member Enzinas
>> here.
>> Council member Poston
>> here.
>> Council member Alando
>> here.
>> Council member Harris
>> here.
>> Council member Hawkins
>> here.
>> We have a quorum.
>> Great. Um, council, under consent
agenda, we had no callins to the um,
city clerk or to Alexis, although
council member Harris uh, did reach out
to staff in advance to have a question
on item number seven. Council member
Harris.
>> Yeah, thank you so much, Mayor. Um,
yeah. I I guess my question is that what
I would like to do is uh Kelly, I want
to know for for item number seven, um,
how does this ordinance prevent false
signs that attack our citizens or
businesses?
>> If I may, Mayor, um, Council Member
Harris, this ordinance does not regulate
content of the signs. Um, so it does not
address um false statements or anything
like that in a a sign.
>> Okay. And so how do we how do we make
sure um can we amend it to make sure
that it does address this?
>> And again, mayor, if I may, um there are
a number of legal issues surrounding
anytime
um you choose to regulate content of
signs. Um, I would be happy to go into a
a more detailed discussion and provide
legal advice. I would recommend that we
do that in an executive session rather
than the open meeting.
>> Mayor, I would like to go into an
executive session to um to discuss the
legal um concerns of this ordinance.
>> Well, council member, we can look into
that. Obviously, we cannot go into one
right now because it's not posted and uh
that's required as you know to have a
certain number of hours in advance. Um
any action on doing anything else with
this item would certainly be covered on
Thursday. Council, I would recommend
that apart from um any look that's
different is it in a timely fashion,
let's move this ahead or council decides
on Thursday to postpone this. But there
are timing issues to get this in effect
before the next um election and we can
always u address any content concerns or
have that conversation independent of
that. But I would be reticent to do
anything that would um deter or slow
down this process so that we're able to
get this ordinance in effect before the
November election or at the time that
signs would be coming up. So, Council
Member Harris, uh, request noted and,
uh, we can certainly have this
conversation, uh, once you're back in
town and look at seeing what we can do.
>> Um, so would that be before Thursday or
what are we talking about here?
>> No. No. At least my suggestion is let's
go ahead and move on this as is and then
we can always amend this at another time
and and take the city attorney's
recommendation to uh uh to address uh
further legal concerns with this in exec
session.
>> I would like to look at addressing it
before we pass an ordinance before then.
Is there a way that we can have a
conversation about this before Thursday
in an exact session? So that way um the
question can be examined and I've asked
the question and it needs more um there
need there needs to be more discussion
around it, legal discussion around it
and I would like our team to be able to
provide that to me out of courtesy of
what I'm will be voting on for Thursday.
um unless there is appetite on this
council. But tonight, we cannot delay
this and um again, I think that's a
better conversation to have independent
of this unless um enough council members
disagree with me on that. Council member
Orlando, I don't disagree. I just have a
question, Kelly. So, the question posed
is I think I understand it. It's first
time, you know, getting a grasp of
what's going on here. um is what happens
if someone puts a deliberate falsehood
and correct if I'm wrong. Is that what
we're trying to do here? Is there
anything the city can do? Is is that
what we're the question is?
>> If I if I may, mayor, council member
Orlando, um there are constitutional and
supreme court cases that address content
regulation. Anytime the city tries to
regulate content, whether it's regarding
the truthfulness or not, there are legal
issues that need to be addressed. Um,
that does not preclude an individual who
may feel that a sign is untruthful about
them. They may have their own ability to
address that. That doesn't take away
from that. Um, but it is not common for
cities to govern sign codes regarding
the content or the truthfulness of the
signs. So, just to follow up real quick,
mayor, um you you obviously researched
this recently, and I again, I don't I
don't know if this is the first time
we've heard about this. Obviously, I
know we talked about this a little bit
before we brought this sign forward, but
I didn't know if that was an unresolved
I didn't know that was unresolved issue
until now. I guess I'm trying to
what we can or cannot do. If I
>> is there
okay before we you know let's before
Thursday night can you give us a summary
if you haven't done already I I've not
chance to read I apologize give us a
summary what's what we're trying to do
here if there anything we can do as
individuals or what can we do I guess
that's the question I guess someone's
asking
>> if I mayor I'm happy to send that out to
you and this is not a new issue this is
an issue we deal with we've dealt with
for a number of years so Yes, we can put
together. I don't have a summary, but I
can get one together, too.
>> I think that'll be fair. Maybe that
might answer the council member's
questions. I don't know, but Okay. Thank
you, Kelly.
>> Council member Poston.
>> Um, I don't know. I don't know if I
think this is for you, Kelly, but can
you tell me what the timing is on this
particular ordinance and what and just
kind of go over what that is? I don't
know if that's you or the city manager.
>> I can address that if you want, mayor.
Um, council member Poston. Um, so if the
council were to approve the introduction
of this ordinance on Thursday, it would
come back for final approval in August
at the August meetings. Um, signs for
the upcoming election of November 4th
regarding the bonds and the charter
changes. Uh, signs can be posted 71 days
before the election and that is late
August. So, there will be a little bit
of time where signs can be posted before
this ordinance actually goes into
effect. But if it were to be approved,
that could be a time for education and
then um basically starting right the
first part of September, then the
ordinance could be enforced.
>> Okay. And we need to have two readings
of this, correct? That's part of
>> what the issue is.
>> We do pursu it to our our city charter.
Yes. Okay. Thank you,
>> Vice Mayor. Uh can you explain I know
the answer but I I just want the public
to kind of get into the reason why this
conversation is being had now is uh the
fact that consistently we cannot stop
people from talking just like if they
were in a public square and they want to
call your name you can't stop them from
saying it. same thing on the sign. But
what is it that are we trying to
accomplish with this ordinance when it
comes to the sign? Making sure that if
that happened, what is it that we are
requiring of people posting sign to do
at this time?
>> If I may, Mayor um Vice Mayor Ellis,
what the ordinance before you now is
doing is it's requiring all temporary
signs to have contact information from
the person responsible for that sign.
And that allows staff to contact someone
if the sign needs to be removed, if
there's issues relating to campaign,
finance or or political um signs. It it
gives us the ability to um contact the
person, tell them why there's a problem
with the sign, and allow for them to
remedy that that problem. And there's no
legal requirement in our code that there
be any contact for temporary signs, and
there's limited contact for political
signs. And again, because um the Supreme
Court has interpreted the first
amendment to say you can't distinguish
between types of signs, this is going to
apply to all temporary signs posted in
Chandler.
>> Well, the next question I was going to
ask and quickly if you may, if there was
that information is not on the sign, we
are allowed to take it down. If I may,
mayor, uh, Vice Mayor Ellis, once this
ordinance goes into effect, yes, that it
will be the case.
>> Okay. So, then we are doing what we said
we're going to do with this ordinance.
>> That was the direction of the council.
Yes.
>> What can happen if we try to teeter in
this area of trying to regulate content
on the sign? Because I remember this is,
you know, two elections and we couldn't
do that. And so what is the difference
between then and now?
>> If I can again, Mayor, Vice Mayor Ellis,
the law in this area has not changed.
There are first amendment protections.
There is viewpoint uh protections and
there is a requirement of neutrality on
the part of the city. Again, we can go
into more detail, but um
the public ability to have their speech
unregulated is one of the highest
protections in our country and even
higher when it comes to political
speech. So, anytime you try to regulate
that,
you open yourself up to challenge
>> lawsuits, you mean?
>> Yes.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Mayor.
Um, mayor,
>> council member Harris.
>> Yes. So, um,
this is why we need to go into an
executive session to discuss this
further. Um, there's probably many more
questions I want I would like to discuss
as it comes to the first amendment. And
since um it's being presented as a
content regulation issue versus a
businessto business having an issue if a
business puts up a false sign about
another business that creates further
falsehoods
uh with that business. this you're
talking about political campaigns and
things of that nature where I'm where
I'm just simply saying what if a
business to another business what if
someone put up negative signs about a
business around the city of Chandler
um that that is a different conversation
so that's why I want to have how does
this protect our businesses
and from citizen to citizens while we're
in while these signs are in public view
or in public um spaces because that's
what we're doing. We're allowing where
we're seeing what certain things can be,
but it sound like the the the attorney
wants to talk about first amendment
rights and things like that. And I'm
simply trying to solve problems from
business to business and people to
people. So that's why this conversation
needs to be had to make it very clear on
where we're trying to go and solve the
problem that's happening.
>> And council member, I I I I know Kelly
is reticent to talk about this in an
open session. And again, I I would
welcome um at a at a time in the near
future us looking at this if uh I don't
mind calling an exact session, but um uh
you're certainly welcome on Thursday if
you want to make a motion to postpone
this. I I know I would not be for that
because I am I want to get this passed
for this election and and I see a bit of
apples and oranges, but I'm certainly
willing to join you and have a
conversation and council uh about
looking at this in an exeact session in
the near future.
>> Yeah. Again, mayor, I appreciate the
sentiments on the exact session. and we
can um uh my concern is we're sitting
here in an open conversation getting
ready to pass an ordinance, a law that
changes on Thursday and my apprehension
to it is my questions are going
unanswered and to expect me to vote in
any kind of way when all my questions
have been answered does a disservice to
myself and the constituents and to the
people of Chandler. So again, I ask that
my question be answered before the
meeting on Thursday.
>> All right. Well, again,
uh
thank you and uh we'll see what council
wants to do on Thursday. So council with
that um we have no other uh business
here or I'd like to conclude this
meeting and certainly willing to
continue this conversation. Council
member Harris with that our meeting is
over.